Evergreen Gallant

by Jean Plaidy

From the time he was fifteen, women found Henry of Navarre irresistible. But he was never faithful for long. Marked for death by a Catholic count who saw in him the rallying point of Huguenot fortunes, Henry took his pleasures where he found them.

A father at fifteen, he was sent to become a soldier under the great Coligny but still found time for love affairs. Yet when his mother died mysteriously, he began to change, and the man who rode to Paris to play the part of bridgegroom in the "Blood-Red Wedding" was alert for treachery. Facing death nonchalantly, accepting the Mass in exchange for his life, amusing himself with the mistress who he knew had been sent to spy on him, he deluded even Catherine de' Medici.

Life with the tempestuous Margot was like a succession of farcical incidents from the Decameron. Reputed to have had more mistresses than any King of France, he passed lightly from one to another. There were the spies of Catherine de' Medici, promiscuous Charlotte de Sauves, and gentle Dayelle; Fosseuse, who came into conflict with Margot; Corisande, whom he loved as a wife; Gabrielle, who had been sold to a King and others by her rapacious mother; these and others occupied him until the day of his death when he was pursuing the youthful Charlotte de Montmorency.

In addition to his mistresses, there were two wives to plague him: flamboyant Margot, whose adventures rivaled his own, and Marie de' Medici, who came to torment his later years.

This was the man who, affectionately known as the Evergreen Gallant because all through his life he was in love with some woman, brought posperity back to a war-scarred country, declared Paris to be worth a Mass, and was recognized as the greatest King the French had ever known.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, France

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Susan]

A novel about Henry of Navarre, with an emphasis on his many romantic entanglements. A pleasant read and an entertaining introduction to some of the major personalities of the era of the French religious wars.

[Sara W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about Henri IV of France (Henri of Navarre). The third book of Jean Plaidy's Catherine de Medici trilogy is better than this book (about 1/2 to 2/3 of this book is covered in that book). A lot of stuff is glossed over in this book which might be because so much is crammed into it - it may have been better as two books with more detail added. Most of the focus is on Henri and his mistresses, which is interesting, but I wanted more about what he did as King of France. The back of the book mentioned how he was the best king of France ever, and that thought was repeated in the book, but no details were ever given about why that was so. All the book repeated was that he preferred love to war, and he wanted everyone to have a chicken in his pot every Sunday. Okay, that's all fine and good, but how did he accomplish that? Why did the people grow to love him? Plaidy never really gets into that, and this definitely wasn't one of her best books.

Henri's first wife, Margot, seems really fascinating, and I would love to read a book just dealing with her.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jean Plaidy’s book Evergreen Gallant set during the times of Henry of Navarre time in France .

[Phil Syphe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those novels that should’ve been split into two or three volumes. The author’s need to cram such a full life as France's King Henri IV’s into one book results in lots of telling and very little showing.

Certain scenes and events are brought to life, but most of the time we’re told by the third-person narrator what happened, when it could’ve been dramatized to make the reader feel part of the action.

We also get a lot of repeated info – a Plaidy trait – which is a waste of words.

Henri IV, and his first wife Margot, are fascinating characters, so it’s a shame the author didn’t make more of this. she does a better job in her Catherine de Medici series, which covers much of what happens in “Evergreen Gallant”.

In short, this isn’t a bad read, but has potential to be a whole lot better. An opportunity missed.

[Lyn Stapleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read about Henry of Navarre (Henry IV of France). A lot of this book was covered in the third book of the author's Catherine Medici trilogy. I agree with a lot of the people who posted reviews saying this should have been two volumes. A lot of information about Henry was crammed into this book. Still very informative, but a little repetitive in place.

[Doodles McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young teen I loved this Y/A historical novel of Henry of Navarre. One of Plaidy's many children's stories bringing history to life.

[Monica Batiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books and authors!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

French Henry of Navarre.

[Vanduellere · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the King of Navarre, who became Louis the fourth of France. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published 1965. Story of Henri IV of France and Navarre.